Knitting machine



; s. 6,-193s. M. c. MILLER 2,126,791

KNITTING MACHINE Fiied Jan. 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug, 16; 193$. M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3' Aug. 16, 193%.

. M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE 5 'Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. lb, 1936 ATTOR ,1933. M. c. MILLER 2,125,791 KNITTING MACHINE I Fiied Jan. ,15, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IINVENTOR BY W/i m Patented Au 16, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 37 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in knitting machines, and more particularly to a novel and improved knockover and webholder mechanism for flat full-fashioned hosiery machines having sinkers, and needles movable as a unit with relation to a fixed. press edge and a cooperating series of knockover surfaces.

In machines of this description as ordinarily constructed, the needles have a figure eight motion, being moved downwardly and forwardly from the press to draw the newly formed loops of! the sinker noses onto the knockover surfaces, and then rearwardly at the knockover level to reform the loops to the backs of the needles. A fabric take-up including a take-up roll and tensioning means therefor is ordinarily employed to tension the successively knitted courses to the backsof the needles. The reforming of the needle loops has for a principal object to draw these loops held on the needles through the needle loops of the preceding course, robbing as much yarn from the complementary sinker loops of the course as possible, to enable the closed beard to pass through the loops of the preceding course and to form relatively long narrow needle loops of uniform size in the finished fabric. The reforming of the needle loops against the knockover surfaces and against the tensioning strain of the fabric take-up during the downward and rearward movement of the needles serves at best only partially to secure the desired result due to he tendency of the needle loops of the preceding course to ride forward with the loops held by the needles during the knocking over, thus nullifying the effect of the loop reforming operation above described.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide in a flat full-fashioned knitting machine of the general type herein described, novel 40 knockover and webholder elements which will operate during the knitting of each course to positively engage with the sinker loops of the preceding course and tension the fabric to the backs of the needles.

It is more specifically an object of the present inventionto provide knockover and webholder elements having throated portions and arranged for operation during the knitting of each such ceedingcourse to cause said throated portionsto engage with the sinker loops of the preceding course to remeasure said previously formed loops. and also to remeasure the newly formed needle loops at and subsequent to the knockover to se cure a uniform regular appearing fabric.

as It is a further object of the invention to provide knockover and webholder elements of this general description and having the mode of operation set forth, to take up or force the fabric, as knitted, to the backs of the needles, and thus to eliminate the necessity for the relatively inefllcient and cumbersome fabric take-up mechanism normally employed in flat full-fashioned machines.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel and improved knockover and webholder mechanism which will permit of the use in combination therewith of a simplified and improved needle motion, to reduce vibration and to secure satisfactory operation of the machine at higher speeds.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel and improved knockover and webholder mechanism of this general description which is well adapted for operation in combination with the narrowing devices of the machine to hold down and tension the fabric loops to the backs of the needles, particularly during the last step of a loop transfer operation as the needles rise to receive the loops held on the transfer points. For operation during narrowing, or similar loop transfer operations, the webholders are preferably advanced prior to the rising movement of the needles to engage with and tension the loops of the transferred course to the backs of the needles to remeasure these loops, and more particularly the loops at the inner end of each narrowing which are super-imposed upon loops held by the adjacent needles, and serve to form the narrowing button, to reform or remeasure these loops as the needles riseduring the last step of the narrowing operation to receive the loops held on the narrowing points.

With these and other objects in view asmay hereinafter appear, one feature of the invention consists in the provision of a novel knockover and webholder element constructed and arranged with a knockover surface and a nib or throated portion formed at the outer end thereof, for operation during the knitting of each successive course to engage with and force the sinker loops of the previously knitted course away from the needles. A

Another feature of the invention consists in the provision of a novel and improved supporting means for applicant's knockover and web;- holder elements which is constructed and arranged to provide a take-up action of said elements toward the backs of the needles, to insure the engagement of the sinker loops of the preceding knitted course with the throated portion of said elements during the rearward and subsequent rising movement of the needles.

Another feature of the invention consists in the novel construction and organization of the actuating mechanisms for the machine to secure the desired mode of operation of applicant's knockover and webholder elements as herein set forth.

The several features of the invention consist also in the devices, combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, which together with the advantages to be obained thereby, will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a cross section of a fiat full-fashioned multiple section hosiery machine of ordinary description, only so much of the machine being shown as is necessary to illustrate the connection of the present invention therewith; Fig. 2 is a detail cross sectional view illustrating particularly the cam actuating lever for the knockover and webholder elements and actuating cams therefor as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating particularly the knockover and, webholder elements and their supporting means shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, are detail sectional views illustrating successive steps in the operation of the needle, sinkers and knockover elements in the knitting of the course of fabric loops; Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the knockover bits, needles and loops at the time the knockover.bits are in engagement with the last finished course of knitting with the new course knocked over their top surfaces as shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a plan view similar to Fig. 10, with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view similar to Figs. 10 and 11, but with the knockover elements withdrawn and the needles in their high position as shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 10 taken with the parts substantially in the positions shown in Fig. 7; Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are detail views in side elevation showing the relative positions of the needle, sinkers and knockover elements during certain stages of the knitting, being supplementary to Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive; Figs. 17 to 23 inclusive, are detail views in side elevation illustrating successive steps in the operation of the sinkers, needles, knockover elements and narrowing points during a "transfer operation; Fig. 24 is a detail view similar to Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, showing a step in the operation of the knitting elements subsequent to that illustrated in Fig. 7, and preceding that illustrated in Fig. 8; Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 24 illustrating the parts in corresponding positions for the usual needle motion as the sinker bars of the newly kinked course are drawn off the noses of the sinkers; Fig. 26 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating particularly applicants simplified needle motion; and Fig. 27 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing one position of applicant's improved knockover and webholder elements in combination with the usual needle motion employed in flat full-fashioned hosiery machines.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a flat full-fashioned knitting machine of ordinary description. This machine as shown in cross section in Fig. 1, includes a front supporting base rail 30, a rear base rail 32, a work table 34 and a sinker supporting rail 36 having mounted loops.

thereon a sinker bed plate 38 and a cover plate 40, each of these members extending throughout the machine length and being supported at intervals on vertical connecting frames such as that indicated at 42. The machine is also provided with the usual main cam shaft 44 extending throughout the length of the machine.

The knitting instrumentalities of the machine comprise sinkers 46 having a usual construction and mode of operation, webholders 4'! herein after more fully to be described, and spring beard needles 48 which are supported on needle bars or supports 50 for vertical and horizontal movements en masse with relation to the several knitting elements and a press edge 49 formed on the sinker bed plate 38. The machine is also provided with the usual narrowing machine frame including supporting levers 52 pivotally supported on the shaft 54 and narrowing points 56 carried thereby, as generally indicated in Fig. 1. Each of the several narrowing frames and the transfer points 56 carried thereby are supported and moved vertically through connections which include a vertically extending link 58 connected at its upper end to the narrowing frame and at its lower end to a laterally extending cam lever 60 supported on a pivot! and carries intermediate its length a roll 64 to engage with the usual narrowing cam or cams 66 on the cam shaft 44. Inasmuch as mechanism for actuating the narrowing frame to perform narrowing and other loop transfer operations is well known in the art, no further description of these actuating connections is believed necessary.

The supporting and actuating mechanism for the needles 48 and needle bars 50 for the several sections of the machine, while having the usual construction of these parts, may be briefly described as follows:-Each of the needle beds 50 is pivotally supported on horizontally extending lever arms 68 which are secured at intervals to a rock shaft 10 extending the length of the machine, the position of the rock shaft in turn being controlled by a downwardly extending cam lever 12 provided with a cam roll 14 arranged for engagement with a cam 16 for imparting the required vertical movements to the needles. The needle bars 50 have formed thereon downwardly extending lever arms 18 which are connected through cross links 80 to downwardly extending levers 82 rigidly secured to a rock shaft 84 which extends throughout the machine length, and is controlled to impart the required in and out movements to the needles by means of one or more cam levers 86 secured to the rock shaft 84 and provided with a cam roll 90 arranged for engagement with an actuating cam or cams 92 on the cam shaft 44.

In accordance with a. principal feature of the present invention, theknockover bits or webholders 41 are of a novel and. improved construction, and are arranged to operate in a novel manner to perform certain new and useful functions in machines of the general type herein described. The knockover bits 41 as illustrated for instance in Fig. 4 of the drawings, are provided with two surfaces, a knockover surface I02 and an additional surface I00, which are preferably substantially flat and in parallel relationship, being separated by a nib I04 which is slightly undercut to provide a throat for engagement with sinker While this throat or nib portion of the knockover bit must be necessarily made deep enough to engage with and hold the sinker loops during the rearward and subsequent rising movement of the needles, it has been found desirable to reduce the size thereof so far as practical, in order to have the surface I02 only slightly above the surface I00, so that the loop that is being cast off, as shown in Fig. 8, will with certainty slide off the hook end of the needle, without necessitating that the loops in the needle hooks be any longer than the normal loops. It can be readily understood that if the surface I02 were considerably above the surface I00, the needles in their downward movement, at the time they kink the new yarn over the surface I02 would not go low enough in relation to the surface I00 to properly cast off the loops. For use in fine gauge machines, a nib having a total height of fifteen thousandths of an inch is considered ample.

Further in accordance with the present invention, the knockover bits 41 are arranged to be moved forwardly and back in timed relation to the needle inovements during each knitting cycle, and are further supported to permit a yielding downward movement thereof with the needles and yarn kinked thereon at the knockover,- and also to provide a yield in the forward movement thereof to tension and hold down the fabric to the backs of the needles as hereinafter more fully described. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the knockover bits 41 for each section are supported on a knockover bit bar I00 which is pivotally supported on lever arms IIII loosely mounted to turn on a rock shaft II2 extending the length of the machine. The knockover bits are yieldingly supported in a normally high posi= tion closelyadjacent the under sides of the sinkers by means of a compression spring II4 seated at one end in a recess formed in the knockover bit bar I08, and at its other end against an abutting portion of the lever IIII, the upward move ment of the knockover bit bar and knockover bits 41 being limited by the engagement of a down: wardly extending lug II6 on the bar I06 with an adjustable stop screw II8 screw-threaded into a lug I20 on the lever arm H0.

The angular position ofthe lever arms H0 is controlled to impart the desired forward and back movements to the knockover bits through connections which comprise an actuating lever I22 for each section which is rigidly secured to the rock shaft II2 adjacent one of the lever arms 0, and is connected thereto by means of a tension spring I24 connected at one end to a hook I26 on the lever arm I22 and at its other end to a hook I20 on the webholder supporting lever H0, and by the engagement of an adjustable stop screw I30 screw-threaded for adjustment into the actuating lever I22 with a corresponding abutment I32 on the lever IIO. There is also secured to the rock shaft II2, one or more cam levers I34 each of which is provided with a cam roll I36 arranged for engagement alternatively with one of two actuating cams I30 and, I40 on the cam shaft 44. For the normal position of the cam shaft during ordinary knitting, the roll I36 rides on the cam I30, being arranged for engagement with the cam I40 only upon an axial shiftingof the cam shaft for a narrowing operation in accordance with the usual operation of these machines in narrowing. A heavy tension spring I connected at one end to the cam lever I34 and at its other end to a hook I46 on the rear base plate 32, serves to maintain the cam lever and roll I36 at all times in engagement with one or the other of said cams.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, there is provided with each knitting section of the machine, a supplemental table or carrier I50 which is pivotally supported on the usual table 34 of the machine by mans of-a pivot pin I54, and is arranged when in operating position as shown in Fig. 1, to extend over the rear lipfof the table into close proximity to the knockover bits 41 to support and carry the fabric, as knitted, away from the operating portions of the machine. I

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the knockover and webholder mechanism herein disclosed, is particularly constructed and arranged for operation in combination with a simplifiedand improved needle motion to secure a more efficient cooperation of the knitting elements to produce a fabric of high quality at higher speeds than have heretofore been considered practicable. The improved needle motion employed in the preferred form of the invention, is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 26 of the drawings, which illustrates also the relationship of the press edge and sinkers thereto. The positions of the several cooperating elements including needles, webholders, and sinkers, at the successive stages of the knitting of a course. are illustrated in Figs. 14 and 16, and 5 to 9 inclusive. The successive steps in the operation of narrowing, are similarly illustrated particularly in Figs. 1'? to 23 inclusive.

It will readily be seen from the inspection of the drawings and particularly Fig. 26, that the 'have, however, been radically altered to eliminate he usual rapid outward and return movement f the needles to knock over and reform the newly formed kinks to the backs of the needles, only enough movement of the needles in a horizontal direictiot "being retained to cause the needle bearfficlear the press edge and to draw the new it formed kinks off the noses of the sinkers.

The elimination as above described, of the extremely rapid forward and back movement of the needles ordinarily employed at the knockover,- is of advantage to reduce the vibration of the machine in a transverse plane, which is an important limiting factor in the speed and efliciency of operation of present day machines.

The changes above set forth in the relative movements of the needles and knockover elements also permits a more direct and less damaging handling of the yarns by the knitting elements particularly in moving the newly formed loops to the backs of the needles at and subsequent to the knockover.

Subsequent to the knockover, the needles are permitted to rise vertically to their high position. In view of the fact that the needles are maintained at all times in relatively close proximity to the press edge, some slight alteration in the movements 'of the sinkers is required to properly sink yarn about the needle shanks as shown-in Fig. 16,.and also to permit the newly formed needle loops to be drawn off the noses of the sinkers in the position shown in Fig. 24. The

movements of the sinkers so far as they depart from the usual sinker motion, are believed to be adequately set forth in the illustrative-figures ments in the knitting of each course, and also during narrowing, is illustrated in the drawings particularly in connection with applicant's simplified needle motion diagrammatically shown in Fig. 26. Inasmuch as the movements of the knockover bits downwardly are controlled entirely by the action of the needles and loops held thereon against a spring cushion during the knockover, and the forward movement of the knockover bitsto tension and hold down the fabric loops against the needle shanks, as hereinafter more fully described, is always cushioned by the action of the spring I24, it will be understood that the operating cams I38 and I40 are permitted to have a relatively simple outline, being utilized only to advance or retract the knockover bits between alternative positions during different stages in the knitting cycle. Where there is no fabric on the needles, the engagement of the screw I30 against the contact surface I32 effectively operates to control the forward posi-'- tion of the webholders within operating limits.

While the operation of applicants improved knockover bit and webholder construction is illustrated in a preferred form in connection with a simplified needle motion, it will be understood that a substantially similar mode of operation may be obtained utilizing the regular needle and sinker motions on full-fashioned cotton type hosiery machines, as best shown in Figs. and 2'7 of the drawings. Under these circumstances, a slight change in the contour of the webholder knitting cam I38 is required as shown at I55 in dot-and-dash lines, Fig. 2, to cause the webholders 4! to follow the relatively wide forward and back movements of the needles at the knockover. Such change could easily be made by one skilled in the art, bearing in mind the fact that identical relative operating positions and mode of operation of the knockover bits with relation to the needles is to be secured for each of the corresponding positions shown in the figures illustrating the operation of the knockover bits in connection with the simplified needle motion. Fig. 25, for example, illustrates the position taken by the knockover bits as the loops are pulled off of the sinker noses during the downward movement of the needles, and so far as the relative positions of needles and knockover bits is concerned, corresponds exactly to the position shown in Fig. 24, illustrating the corresponding step in the operation of applicants preferred construc- The operation of applicant's improved knockover and webholder elements in combination with the simplified needle movement and sinker motions above set forth, is as follows:-Assuming that the needles have just finished their upward movement, the parts will have the positions shown in Fig. 14, the knockover bits being at this time projected between the needles with their notches in engagement with the sinker loop bars of the previous course, that is, a course knitted prior to'the course now on the needles. The position of the fabric with relation to knockover bits and needles at this time corresponds to that illustrated also in plan in Fig; 11. The knock-i over bits are tensioned forwardly against the fabric at this time under the pressure of the spring I24, as shown in Fig. 4, the webholder actuating lever I22 having been moved forwardly a sufficient distance to disengage the screw I from the contact surface I32. The knockover bits are also in their high position under the pressure of the spring H4, so that the ear IIG is engaged against the stop screw II8. In accor'dance with the mode of operation illustrated, the webholders are retracted as the needles start their downward movement (see Fig. 15), so that they may be subsequently advanced to engage the sinker loops of the course held on the needles. It will be understood that this retracting action of the knockover elements'may be delayed if so desired, until just prior to the drawing down of the next knitted course to maintain a tensioning strain on the fabric against the needle shanks as. long as possible during the downward movement of the needles to the press.

The yarn carrier is traversed and the yarn kinked by the sinkers following the usual mode of operation of these elements, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16. The needles move downwardly and rearwardly to press position as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. The knockover bits must at this time be withdrawn to their fully retracted position, so that the notched portions thereof may be positioned for engagement with the sinker loops of the finished course about to be cast off from the needle.

As the needles continue their downward movement to cast off the previously knitted course, the loops held on the needls shanks ride onto the closed needle beard. This action of the loops against the needle beards effectively forces the loops and adjacent portions of the fabric downwardly, so that as the knockover bits are at the same time advanced, the notched portions thereof with certainty engage with the sinker bars of yarn of the course on the closed beards of the needles, as shown in Fig. 7, and in the corresponding plan view in Fig. 13. The advance of the webholders to their fullest extent to tension the fabric loops, is preferably delayed as shown in Fig. 10, until the loops being cast off have passed well beyond the tip portion of the needle beard to prevent possible stretching or damage to these loops on the inclined tip portion of the beard during the rapid downward movement of the needles.

The downward movement of the needles is now continued while at the same time the sinkers are withdrawn to cause the new loops to be disengaged from the sinker noses, as shown in Fig. 24, and thereafter to draw the loops downwardly against the knockover surfaces I02 shown in Fig. 8.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the webholders when advanced, are moved under the influence of their springs I24 subject to the delay in timing above mentioned and illustrated in Fig. 10, into yielding engagement with the sinker loops to maintain a spring tension on the fabric against the needles. During all of the movements of the needles above described, the knockover bits have been held in a high position by the operation of the compression spring II4 shown in Fig. 4. As the needles are 7 now drawn downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 8, the knockover bits aredrawn downwardly by the engagement of the yarn therewith, so that the kinks of yarn are yieldingly tensioned and are remeasurecl to a uniform downward, locked together in the regular man stantially the same relationship of the webholders and sinkers with relation to the needles is employed, asillustrated particularly in Fig. 25,

so that the subsequent inward movement of the needles will operate against a yielding tension provided by the knockover under'the influence of their springs I24 to tension the fabric to the backs of the needles during and subsequent to the movement of theneedles to the knockover position. over bits against the fabric held on the needles is maintained during the entire upward movement of the needles. The continuance oi the spring tension of the knockover bits having engaged in the notches thereof the sinker loops of the previously knitted course during the relatively long period extending from the knockover position of the needles to the fully raised position thereof, operates to remeasure all of the loops to iron out individual differences in size which may have been caused by faulty kinking or disarrangement of the kinks at some time during their formation up to this point and so to produce a degree of uniformity in the knitting of each successive course not heretofore possible.

The movement of the knockover bits during a narrowing operation, is illustrated in a series of views Figs. 17 to 23 inclusive. The mode of operation of the needles, sinkers and transfer points for narrowing, is substantially identical with that ordinarily employed in machines of the type de: scribed. The operation of the webholder elements 41 under the influence of their cams during the narrowing operation, may be briefly described in connection with Figs. 1'? to 23 of the drawings as follows:-

Fig. 1'7 shows the relationship of the points, needles, sinkers and knockover bits at the time the needles have been raised to their proper height prior to narrowing. This is somewhat lower than their height prior to sinking (Fig. 14). This figure also shows the points, after they have moved downward from their idle position. With the needles in this position, the knockover bits are engaged with the previous course of sinker loops, exactly as they were in Fig. 14, and as shown in the plan view, Fig. 9.

Fig. 18 shows the knockover bits in the position shown in Fig. 1'7, with the points engaged with the needles above the fabric in the normal manner.

The needles and points then continue moving ner, to the position shown in Fig. 19, with the The tensioning strain of the knockposition shown in Fig. 21, at which time the needles move toward the points and so. engage with them in the customary manner, immediately after which (as shown in Fig. 22) the knockover bits are permitted to move toward the needles again and engage with the sinker loops of the last knitted course (as shown in Fig. 22), in this manner preparing to hold down the fabric as the needles and points move upwardly to allow the needles to enter the loops held by the points. This holding of the fabric downwardly and tensioning it at this moment, particularly that portion of the fabric not being transferred, is a new feature and is essentially to insure that these non-transferred loops will with certainty be held to the back of the needles, as the needles rise. 1

With the knockover bits so holding the loops, the needles and points move upwardly, into the position shown in Fig. 23. The degree of tension placed on the fabric by the knockover bit notches can of course be regulated for each stage of the narrowing operation by changing the shape of the cams Ml] to vary the throw of the levers 122. The normal shifting of the cam shaft, as the narrowing operations are finished, will again bring the cams for controlling the various knitting elements into action, including the cams I38 for controlling the knockover bits while knitting. It will be noted that the knockover bits, by engaging with the sinker loops as herein described, will not only adjust themselves to any length of loop with greater certainty and remeasure such loops to cause an exact and positive drawing away of the previously knitted course from the needles, as well as remeasuring the loops, but they will also eliminate the neces- .sity for using any other means to draw the fabric away from the needles, as is now practiced with the aid of fabric take-up devices consisting of flexible straps, rollers and counterweights, so that with a machine having the knockover bits herein shown and described, other fabric take-up means may be'entirely eliminated, with a consequent simplification and reduced cost of the machine. In addition to the advantages in operation of applicant's structure above set forth, it may also be pointed out that the elimination of the usual take-up mechanism permits the automatic casting-off of the fabric from the needles during the continued operation of the machine by merely stopping yarn feed, which may knockover bits preferably still engaged with the.

and 18. As the needles reach the end of their downward movement, those that are not shedding their loops on to the points will draw their loops over the top of the knockover bits, which are free to move downward resiliently witli=-the needles and so accurately re-position the lo ops"'- the needles and points move downwardly into the previous course of loops, as shown in Figs. 1'?

be effected through any ordinary form of pattern control. It will be understood that with the talic-up mechanism now in use, a manual operation of letting down the counterweights to remove the tension from the fabric take-up mechanisms, is necessary, since these weights if not taken out of action, would fall, if the fabric were cast off, causing the take-up rollers to rotate rapidly with resultant winding and probable entangling of the fabric in the take-up mechanism.

Throated knockover bits operating as above described, to take up or clear the fabric as knitted to the backs of the needles, have the further advantage, particularly where soft yarn is used, to permit thesetting up of raw edges of fabric as an initial setting-up course without the necessity of making any other provision for the taking up of such fabric. It will readily be seen that applicants structure which as above pointed out. is arranged for the setting up and casting off of fabric from the needles without the necessity of attaching and disconnecting the usual take-up mechanism, represents an important step toward completely automatic operation of full-fashioned machines of the type described.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and. that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:-

1. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles, and means for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is being drawn through said course of fabric, and thereafter for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles to locate the newly formed sinker loops for subsequent engagement with said throats.

2. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface-and a throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, and means for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement during the movement of the needles to the knockover level to draw the new course through said course of fabric and during the subsequent rise of the needles to yarn feeding position.

3. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles, means for imparting a substantially vertical movement downwardly to the needles to draw down and knock over newly formed loops, and means for advancing the knockover elements during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the. sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is drawn through said course of fabric by the downward movement of the needles to the knockover and thereby to take up and remove the finished fabric from the needles.

4. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a yarn engaging throat, and means for advancing the knockover elements during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is being drawn through said course of fabric, and thereafter for retracting the knockover elements to locate the newly formed sinker loops for subsequent engagement with said throats.

5. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, a support on which said knockover elements are carried for forward and back movements relatively to the needles, spring means acting to move said knockover elements forwardly toward the back line of the needles, and means for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with and to tension the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles toward the backs of the needles and to maintain said tension during the movement of the needles to the knockover to draw the new loops through said course of fabric against said knockover surface and during the subsequent rise of the needles to yarn feeding position.

6. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, spring means tending to maintain the knockover elements in a limiting high position adjacent the under surface of the sinkers, spring means acting to move said knockover elements forwardly toward the back line of the needles, and means for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with and tension the sinker loops of the previously knitted course towards the backs of the needles and to knock over the newly formed sinker loops on said yieldingly supported knockover surfaces and against the forward tensioning strain of said throats on the fabric.

'7. In a fiat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements, each having a loop engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat, means for actuating said knockover elements during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats thereof with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is being drawn through said course of fabric, and to cause the newly formed kinks to be drawn down against said yarn engaging surface by the needles at the knockover, and means for tensioning said knockover elements forwardly to clear the fabric to the backs of the needles at and subsequent to the knockover.

8. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles, 9. support on which said knockover elements are arranged for forward and back movements. relatively to the shanks of the needles, and a cam and connections controlled thereby for imparting forward and back movements to the knockover elements to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is belngdrawn through said course of fabric, and thereafter for retracting the knockover elements to locate the newly formed sinker loops for subsequent engagement with said throats.

9. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, of knockover elements each having ayarn engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat, a support on which said knockover elements are arranged for forward and back movements relatively to the shanks of the needles, a cam for controlling the forward and back movement of said knockover elements to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is being drawn through said course of fabric against said yarn engaging surfaceby the movement of the needles to the knockover, and means controlled by said cam for moving the knockover elements including a yielding connection to tension the throats and sinker loops engaged therein forwardly towards the backs of the needles.

10. In a fiat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having aloop engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, a support on which said knockover elements are carried for forward and back movements relatively to the needle shanks, spring means for maintaining said elements in a limiting high position adjacent the under side of the sinkers, a cam for controlling the forward and back movements of the knockover elements to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the previously knitted course prior to and during the rise of the needles to yarn feeding position, and connections controlled by said cam for moving the knockover elements including a yielding connection to tension the throats and sinker loops engaged therein toward the backs of the needles.

11. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, of knockover elements each having a knockover surface and an engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, a support for said knockover elements pivotally mounted for forward and back movements relatively to the shanks of the needles, a webholder actuating cam, and connections therefrom for moving said support including a webholder actuating lever, a spring connecting said lever to advance the support, and a stop on the lever for engagement with the support to positively limit the advance of the support.

12; In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward thebacks of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, and means for moving the knockover elements relatively to the needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to retract the knockover elements to position the throats for subsequent engagement with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles, to advance the knockover elements to engage the throats with said sinker loops as the fabric is forced downwardly by engagement of the needle beards to cast off the needle loops of said course of fabric, and to further advance the knockover elements only after said needle loops have passed beyond the inclined tip portion of the needle beards, to position the needle loops of said fabric course to the back line of the needles when cast off by the movement of the needles to the knockover.

13. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with yarn measuring sinkers to which the yarn is fed and spring beard needles movable en masse and substantially in a vertical plane to and from the knockover position, of knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a yarn engaging throat, means for advancing the knockover elements during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is drawn through said course of fabric by the movement of the needles to the knockover, and thereafter to withdraw the knockover elements to position the throat portions thereof for engagement with the sinker loops of the next succeeding course of fabric supported on the needles.

14. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with a series of spring beard needles movable as a unit and their cooperating sinkers, of a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a yarn engaging throat, means for moving the needles substantially in a vertical plane to receive and draw down kinks of yarn fed thereto against the knockover surfaces and for moving the needles laterally from said vertical plane of operation for pressing the needle beards, and means for moving the knockover elements in timed relation to the downward movement of the needles to engage the notched portions thereof with and to draw the sinker bars of the course of fabric on the needles toward the backs of the needles and to maintain said engagement during the down movement of the needles to the knockover to draw the new course through said course of fabric.

15. In aflat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a loop transfer mechanism comprising loop lifting implements, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, and means for relatively moving the needles and knockover elements to engage the throats with the sinker loops prior to and during the risev of the needles to receive the loops from said loop lifting implements.

movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating there-.

with, a loop transfer mechanism comprising loop lifting implements, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, and means for relatively moving the needles and knockover elements to disengage the throats from the sinker loops to permit the rise of the fabric with the needles andtransfer points for the transfer of loops held on said loop lifting implements, and again to engage the throats with the sinker loops prior to and during the rise of the needles to receive the loops from said loop lifting implements.

17. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a loop transfer mechanism comprising loop lifting implements, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, and means for relatively moving the needles and knockover elements to engage the throats with the sinker loops during the rise of the needles prior to a transfer operation, to disengage said throats from the sinker loops to permit the rise of the fabric with the needlesand transfer points for the transfer of loops held on said loop lifting implements, and again to engage the throats with the sinker loops prior to and during the rise of the. needles to receive the loops from said loop lifting implements.

18. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, a loop transfer mechanism comprising loop lifting implements, a knockover element actuating cam, and connections actuated thereby for imparting forward and back movements to the knockover elements relatively to the needle shanks to position said throats for engagement with the sinker bars of the course on the needles and-to move the knockover elements forwardly to engage the throats with said sinker loops prior to and during the rise of the needles to receive from the loop lifting implements the loops held thereon.

19. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, a support on which said knockover elements are arranged for forward and back movements relatively to the shanks of the needles, a narrowing mechanism for the machine comprising loop lifting implements, a narrowing knockover element actuating cam, and connections therefrom for moving said support to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course held on the needles prior to and during the rise of the needles to receive from said loop lifting implements the loops held thereon.

20. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, -a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, a support on which said knockover elements are arranged for forward and back movements relatively to the shanks of the needles, a narrowing mechanism for the machine comprising loop lifting implements, a narrowing knockover element actuating the sinker loops of the course on the needles prior to and during the rise of the needles to receive from said loop lifting implements the loops held thereon.

21. In a knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat, a loop transfer device comprising loop engaging points, means for controlling the position of said knockover elements during a loop transfer operation to cause the last course of sinker loops to be engaged by said throat during the downward movement of the needles and transfer points subsequent to narrowing, and thereafter to cause the throats of said knockover elements to engage with said sinker loops to reform the loops of said narrowed course to the backs of the needles and hold down the fabric during the subsequent withdrawal of the transfer points.

22. In a knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers and narrowing points cooperating therewith, knockover elements each having a yarn engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat, supporting means on which said knockover elements are arranged for forward and back movement relatively to the needle shanks, and means operative during the action of said points to perform a narrowing operation for advancing said knockover elements to engage the throated portion thereof with and reform the sinker loops of the narrowed course to the backs of the needles.

23. In a fiat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating there with, a series of knockover elements each having a. knockover surface and a throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles, means for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the-course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is drawn through said source of fabric by the movement of the needles to the knockover and thereby to take up and remove the finished fabric from the machine, and a supporting guide member extending adjacent the tips of said knockover elements to carry the fabric away from the needles. i

24. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a throat arranged for engagement wth the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles, means for relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is drawn through said course of fabric by the movement of the needles to the knockover and thereby to take up and remove the finished fabric from the machine, a machine table, a supporting guide member extending adjacent the tips of said knockover elements to carry the fabric away from the needles, and a pivotal support for the guide member on the table.

25. A knockover bit for a knitting machine having a series of needles movable as a unit,

-yarn measuring sinkers, and-knockover bits havbit comprising two substantially parallel loopengaging and knocking over surfaces separated by a-shallow throat opening toward the tip of the knockover bit.

26. A knockover bit for a knitting machine having a series of needles movable as a unit, yarn measuring sinkers, and knockover bits having a take-up action in the knitting of each succeeding course to position the fabric sinker loops beyond the back line of and against the rising movements of the needles, said knockover bit comprising a substantially flat loop engaging surface, a second loop engaging and knocking over surface toward the tip of the knockover bit on a lowerplane, and a shallow yarn engaging throat separating said surfaces.

27. A knockover bit for a knitting machine having a series of needles movable as a unit, yarn measuring sinkers, and knockover bits having a take-up action in the knitting of each succeeding course to position the fabric sinker loops beyond the back line of and against the rising movements of the needles, said knockover bit comprising two loop engaging and knocking over surfaces the one of said surfaces toward the tip of the knockover bit forming a continuation of the other of said surfaces but at a lower level, and a shallow undercut throat separating saidsurfaces.

28. A method of knitting with spring beard needles movable as a unit with relation to a press edge, yarn measuring sinkers, and knockover elements each having-a knockover surface and a throat arranged for engagement with fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles which comprises sinking yarn against the needle shanks, drawing". the newly formed needle kinks through the needle loops of the course of fabric on the needles and against said knockover surfaces, and relatively moving the needles and knockover elements during the knitting of each succeeding course to enease the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needle, and to move said sinker loops beyond the back line of the needles. and maintaining said engagement while the new course is drawn through said course of fabric by the movement of the needles to the knockover and during the subsequent rise of-the needles and thereby to take up and remove the finished fabric from the needles.

29. The method of knitting with spring beard needles movable as a unit, yarn measuring sinkers and knockover elements each having a knock- ,over surface and a throat arranged for engagefi l) ment with fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles, which comprises sinking yarn against the needle shanks, relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles, and maintaining said. engagement to force-said sinker loops toward the backs of the needles while thei'new course is drawn through said course of fabric by the downward movement of the needles to the knockover and thereby to take up and remove finished fabric from the needles.

30. The method of knitting with spring beard needles movable as a unit, yarn measuring sinkers and knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a throat arranged for engagement with fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles, which comprises sinking yarn against the needle shanks, relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles, and maintaining said engagement to force said sinker loops toward the backs of the needles while the new course is drawn through said course of fabric by the downward movement of the needles to the knockover and thereby to take up and remove finished fabric from the needles, and thereafter relatively moving the knockover elements and needles to locate the newly formed sinker loops forsubsequent engagement with said throats.

31. The method of knitting with spring beard needles movable as a unit, yarn measuring sinkers and knockover elements each having a knockover surface and a throat arranged for engagement with fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles, which comprises sinking yarn against the needle shanks, relatively moving the knockover elements and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles, tensioning said knockover elements to tension said sinker loops toward the backs of the needles, maintaining the tension on said sinker loops while the new course is drawn through said course of fabric, by the downward movement of the needlesto the knockover and thereby to take up and remove finished fabric from the needles, and thereafter relatively moving the knockover elements and needles to locate the newly formed sinker loopsfor subsequent engagement with said throats.

32. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the back of the needles,

a support on which said knockover elements are carried for forward and back movements rela tively to the needle shanks, spring means for maintaining said elements in a. limiting high position adjacent the, under side of the sinkers, and means for imparting relative forward and back movements to the support and needles during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is being drawn through said course of fabric by the downward movement of the needles to the knockover.

3 3. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a series of knockover elements each having a knockover surface terminating at the forward end thereof in a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to course is being vdrawn through said course of fabric.

34. In a flat knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith, a loop transfer mechanism comprising loop lifting implements, a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and-a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops towards the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles, 9. support on which said knockover elements are carried for forward and back movements relatively to the needle shanks, spring means for maintaining said elements in'a limiting high position adjacent the under side of the sinkers, and means for moving said support to advance the knockover elements relatively to the needles to engage the throats with the sinker loops prior to and during,

the rise of the needles to receive the loops from said loop lifting implements.

35. In a knitting machine having needles movable as a unit and sinkers cooperating therewith. a series of knockover elements each having a loop engaging surface and a yarn engaging throat arranged for engagement with the fabric sinker loops to position said loops toward the backs of the needles and against the rising movements of the needles. a support on which said knockover elements are carried for forward and back movements relatively to the needle shanks, cam means for imparting forward and back movements to the support during the knitting of each succeeding course to engage the throats with the sinker loops of the course of fabric on the needles and to maintain said engagement while the new course is being drawn through said course of fabric by the downward movement of the needles to the knockover, a loop transfer mechanism comprising loop lifting implements, and separate cam means cooperating therewith for imparting forward and back movements to the knockover element support and thereby to disengage the throats from the sinker loops of the course on the needles during the rise of the fabric with the needles and transfer points for the removal of the fabric from the needles.

36. In a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of needles movable as a unit, sinkers and knockover and web holder elements, certain of said knitting instrumentalities having a take-up action to remove the fabric as knitted from the needles, and a supporting guide member having a fabric supporting surface of a width equal to the width oi. the needle series and extending forwardly from adjacent the tips of said knockover and web holder elements to carry said fabric as knitted away from the knitting instrumentalities.

37. In a flat knitting machine having knitting instrumentalities including a series of needles movable as a unit, sinkers and knockover and web holder elements, certain of said knitting instrumentalities having a take-up action to remove the fabric as knitted from the needles, 2. work table, a supporting guide member having a fabric supporting surface of a width equal to the width of the needle series and extending forwardly from adjacent the tips of said knockover and web holder elements to carry said fabric as knitted away from the knitting instrumentalities. and a pivotal support on the table for said guide member.

MAX C. MILLER. 

